LLOYDMINSTER - It’s a summer experience to remember. Local athletes that prepared for months, and celebrated being selected for Team Rivers West at the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Lloydminster, July 21-27, put their best efforts forward into competition.
Whether it was earning a medal or resulting in a personal best, athletes know that a Summer Games experience is not all competitors get the chance to know. Competing for themselves, their district pride and their home community all were part of the highlights of their Sask. Summer Games experience.
Wilkie’s Cheyanne Cey was golden in 300m hurdles and would also earned 7th spot 400m race. Cheyanne was part of Teams Rivers West badminton team for Saskatchewan Winter Games in Regina.
In athletics, North Battleford athlete, Keira Van Nortwick had some great track results. She was 5h overall in 100m. She was 8th overall in the 200m. She earned fourth spot in the province for 100m hurdles. And Keira’s best results came with a bronze medal in long jump.
Luseland’s Lily Holman won dual bronze in 800m and 1500m races.
Payton Russell, the JPII athlete who lives in Battleford set a goal of top ten for herself and exceeded that goal by winning a silver medal in the 500gm javelin event.
Olivia Perkins form Maidstone earned fourth place in Pentathlon.
Unity’s Dawson Gilbert was also part of Team Rivers West athletics and earned an admirable top ten placing for both hurdles’ events (110m and 300M), while finishing just off the podium in fourth spot for high jump.
Kale Hassett of North Battleford earned two top ten placings in long jump and triple jump as well as competed in the 100m race.
It was a hard-fought bronze medal win for Teams Rivers West Baseball, after winning that final by just one run over Team Prairie Central in ten innings that spanned four hours. Team members include: Rhett Cawood from North Battleford. Wilkie’s Keegan Schell is also part of the roster. Six athletes from Maidstone made the Summer Games Baseball roster and include players: Kaiden Benkendorf, Cruz Harrison, Noah Perkins, Ean Alsager, and Mason Makin. Macklin will be represented by Darian Lower. Battleford resident, Corban Zavlanos is also on this games roster. There is one Rosetown athlete, Cale Morris, and one Eston athlete, Joel Thoppilan. Coaches for the team will be TJ Zavlanos from Battleford, Brett Harrison from Battleford, Jason Schell from Wilkie and team manager is Karena Alsager from Maidstone.
In basketball, the Rivers West female basketball team will come home with a bronze medal from the Sask. Summer Games experience, as they defeated Team Prairie Central 45-41. Athletes on this team included: Ella Brebner and Myah Wanger from Unity, along with Brylee Carter – Meadow Lake; Harper Fauchon – Battleford; Nicole Gartner – Lloydminster; Addysyn Hansen – Meadow Lake; Casey Johner – Maidstone; Ellie Kraft – Maidstone; Chelsey Munro – Meadow Lake; Ezri Vidal – Meadow Lake; along with coaches Jeremy and Cherie Wagner, also from Unity.
Team Rivers West 2 in the beach volleyball competition earned silver. Those athletes were Rowan Cyr from Lloydminster and Cameryn Larre from St. Walburg. Eloise Benoit of Chauvin and Sienne Sommerfeld from Battleford competed as Team Rivers West 2 in this event but were unable to reach the podium.
Team Rivers West finished the week of competition with 26 medals overall including two gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze. You can view the full results of the games at https://skg2024.gems.pro/Result/MedalList.aspx?SiteMapTreeExpanded=8eb5f6a4-4718-4e6c-b7e8-1ce735783a5d&SetLanguage=en-CA
Summer Games athletes got to gain new experiences as an elite athlete, staying in athlete’s village and meeting new friends, while competing against athletes from across the province. Competitors also affirmed that opening and closing ceremonies are highlights that will have for a lifetime.
Many athletes go on to excel in their sport and compete in Canada Games, University sports or high-performance teams.
